Just on the other side of the Bozeman Pass lies The Attic, an upstairs bar and performance venue in historic Downtown Livingston. The Attic is a MUST for dancers and live music lovers. Here’s a look at some of the upcoming acts to help get us through a particularly chilly start to spring.
First up on Friday, April 20th, Montana singer/songwriters Dave Brinker and Jason Wickens will host a joint album release party beginning at 8pm. Brinker will perform selections from his debut EP, Made Out West, before Wickens takes the stage to share songs from from his debut, Get to Work.
Singing and writing country music has become a true passion for Oregon native Dave Brinker. Currently residing in Bozeman, he’s an avid member of West Coast Songwriters and Nashville Songwriters Association International. From songwriter’s nights to open mics and beyond, Brinker loves being on both sides of the mic playing his songs and enjoying others’ music. The art of putting remarkable lyrics to remarkable music and creating a song that tells a story fuels his desire.
Jason Wickens grew up on his family’s ranch in rural north-central Montana where he taught himself to sing and play guitar. At an early age, he was introduced to Texas-based artists like Houston Marchman, Walt Wilkins, Charlie Robison and Jason Boland who inspired him to write music and tell stories in a way that felt truly authentic to him. He has taken that passion and focused his efforts on writing and sharing stories through song. In addition to writing and performing his music, Wickens is one of the founders of public radio program Live From The Divide: A Celebration of The American Songwriter where he’s worked with artists like Sturgill Simpson, Chris Knight,
Radney Foster, Hayes Carll, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Steve Earle, Dale Watson and many others.
Band of Drifters follows on Saturday, April 21st at 8:30pm. After traveling for years as a street performer, front man Ian Thomas began performing ‘indoors’ in New York City, where he recorded his debut album A Young Man’s Blues and his follow-up
Live at Rockwood Music Hall. Since then, he has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, John Hammond, Cyril Neville, Corey Harris, Sam Bush, The Wood Brothers, The Avett Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Reverend Goat and Dr. John. Performing both solo and with a band, Thomas draws on a variety of American roots influences, delivering a captivating raw live performance and distinctive sound from his original compositions on guitar, harmonica, and kazoo. The Drifters’ latest album, Live in 2016, is a collection of original songs recorded live throughout Montana.
Country artist Sunny Sweeney puts on a show with local help from Sean Devine on Thursday, April 26th at 7:30pm.
From the Grand Ole Opry to the Billboard Country charts, from Nashville to Texas to Montana, Sweeney & Co. return to Livingston, ready to burn the joint down with her fiery brand of honest-to-god country music. The performance will feature songs from her critically acclaimed 2017 release Trophy, including “Pass the Pain,” “Pills,” and the heartbreaking “Bottle by My Bed,” along with a masterful reading of the Chris Wall classic “I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight.” With her hard-earned savvy and acerbic wit, Sweeney always surprises. Montana troubadour Sean Devine will open the night of hard hits and soft landings.
The Hooligans bring a performance on Friday, April 27th at 8pm. Formed in 1990, Hooligans are Bozeman’s longest running roots rock/Americana/blues/jam band. Hooligans are inspired by the improv-driven music of the San Francisco scene as well as early folk, blues, and great rock n’ roll. Prepare to hear tunes from the likes of Bob Marley, Muddy Waters, John Hiatt, Grateful Dead, Traffic, Bob Dylan, Hot Tuna, Van Morrison, and The Band, as well as a handful of originals. The Hooligans’ album Beggars & Thieves is available now.
Local group Blub closes out the month on Saturday, April 28th at 8pm. From the creator of Big Ol’ and Brown, this band of “alternative” performers is composed of Danny Bee, Bill Dwyer, Michael Gillian, and John Sanders.
Advanced ticketing information is available at www.whiskeycreekmontana.com. The Attic is located at 110 N Main St. in Livingston, just above Whiskey Creek Saloon.
